
"In Christ dwelt all the fullness of the
Godhead. But the only way in which He
could reach men was to veil His glory by
a garb of humanity. The angels beheld the
hiding of His glory, that divinity might
touch humanity. Christ ever retained the ut-
most hatred for sin, but He loved the pur-
chase of His blood. He suffered in the
place of sinful men, taking them into union
with Himself."—Ibid., p. 904.
7.
How closely did Christ identify
Himself with sinners? 2 Cor. 5:21;
Isa. 53:4-6.
NOTE.—"Christ made satisfaction for the
guilt of the whole world, and all who will
come to God in faith, will receive the righ-
teousness of Christ, 'who His own self bare
our sins in His own body on the tree,
that we, being dead to sins, should live
unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye
were healed' (1 Peter 2:24). Our sin has
been expiated, put away, cast into the
depths of the sea. Through repentance and
faith we are rid of sin, and look unto the
Lord our righteousness. Jesus suffered, the
just for the
unjust."—Selected Messages,
Bk. 1, pp. 392, 393.
8.
As a result of Christ's infinite
sacrifice, what was assured to sinners?
Rom. 5:10; Col. 1:21.
NOTE.—Our reconciliation with the Fa-
ther was assured. The way into the pres-
ence of God was opened. "In Him we
have a complete offering, an infinite sacri-
fice, a mighty Saviour, who is able to save
unto the uttermost all who come unto God
by Him. In love He comes to reveal the
Father, reconcile man to God, to make him
a new creature renewed after the image of
Him who created him.
"Jesus is our atoning sacrifice. We can
make no atonement for ourselves; but by
faith we can accept the atonement that
has been
made."—Selected Messages,
Bk. 1,
pp. 321, 322.
The Estrangement Ended;
Reconciliation Effected
9.
In view of the reconciliation
provided, what gracious invitation
and positive assurance is extended to
sinners? Matt. 11:28; John 12:32;
1:12.
10.
What marvelous transforma-
tion comes to all who by faith em-
brace the provisions God has made
for our reconciliation? John
3:3;
1 Cor. 6:9-11.
NOTE.—"The Lord Jesus is making ex-
periments on human hearts through the
exhibition of His mercy and abundant
grace. He is effecting transformations so
amazing that Satan, with all his triumph-
ant boasting, with all his confederacy of evil
united against God and the laws of His
government, stands viewing them as a for-
tress impregnable to his sophistries and
delusions. They are to him an incompre-
hensible mystery. The angels of God, sera-
phim and cherubim, the powers commis-
sioned to cooperate with human agencies,
look on with astonishment and joy, that
fallen men, once children of wrath, are
through the training of Christ developing
characters after the divine similitude, to
be sons and daughters of God, to act an
important part in the occupations and
pleasures of heaven."—Sons
and Daugh-
ters of God,
page 356.
•
11.
Into what family are trans-
formed sinners adopted? Gal. 4:4-7;
Eph. 2:19.
NoTE.—"The only-begotten Son of God
has died that we might live. The Lord has
accepted this sacrifice in our behalf, as our
substitute and surety, on the condition that
we receive Christ and believe on Him.
The sinner must come in faith to Christ,
take hold of His merits, lay his sins upon
the Sin Bearer, and receive His pardon. It
was for this cause that Christ came into
the world. Thus the righteousness of Christ
is imputed to the repenting, believing sin-
ner. He becomes a member of the royal
family, a child of the heavenly King, an
heir of God, and joint heir with Christ"—
Selected Messages,
Bk. 1, p. 215.
[ 14 ]